Curcumin Extract Targets Fatty Liver Disease

New study investigating BCM-95® turmeric extract for potential as a preventive and treatment agent for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD) disease demonstrated exciting results. BCM-95 offers a potentiated delivery form of curcumin, a naturally occurring plant polyphenol. BCM-95 is a leading brand in the US curcumin supplement space, marketed by DolCas Biotech.

Inherent to the unique composition of BCM-95 is a full complement of pure curcuminoids and essential oils from turmeric, with a specific content of turmerones, ensuring high free-curcumin bioavailability.

The latest study was conducted at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Mo., and published on July 16, 2018, in the journal Physiological Reports. The robust 4-arm parallel-run murine study was led by Rory P. Cunningham, et al, at the University of Missouri Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and examined BCM-95 across various parameters of liver function.

Specifically, the study focused on comprehensive changes occurring in NAFLD. Results demonstrated that supplemental dietary curcumin attenuated the development of NAFLD, as well as diminished its progression to the more severe Non Alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in female Wistar rats, via its ability to reduce in?ammation, oxidative stress, and hepatic steatosis. All three factors coexist in the pathology of Fatty Liver Disease.

The researchers suggested that curcumin’s role in reducing hepatic steatosis, as evidenced by increased protein markers of key lipogenesis enzymes (pACC/ACC) and lipid transporter ApoB100, acted to mitigate progression to NASH.

BCM-95 treatment was shown to decrease molecular markers of hepatic fibrosis and significantly reduce hepatocellular inflammation in both the treatment and prevention models, with significantly lowered serum markers of liver injury (AST and ALP).

In addition to these and other marked decreases in biochemical markers of the disease, reductions of fibroblast growth factors connected with resistance to blood glucose control by the liver in obese and overweight persons also occurred.

“A nearly two-point reduction in the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) is quite significant for a plant-based ingredient, like BCM-95”, notes Shavon Jackson-Michel, ND, Director of Medical & Scientific Affairs at DolCas Biotech. “This is especially significant since there are few conventional treatments for NAFLD, a dysfunction believed to affect some 30% percent of the population.”

BCM-95’s uniquely bioavailable and bio-efficacy enhanced curcumin product is favored by many formulators. The 15-year-old brand is now supported by 50 studies. BCM-95 holds GRAS status and is kosher and halal certified.

DolCas Biotech, LLC, owns the worldwide brand rights of BCM-95 in a joint venture with India-based manufacturer, Arjuna Naturals Extracts, Ltd. With full oversight of BCM-95’s entire supply chain, a 15-year history of safe use, and GRAS status (as affirmed by a panel of experts and uncontested by the FDA) DolCas and Arjuna offer the industry a pure, clean, and safe raw material.